Voting machine with band interlock

Abstract

A voting machine includes a band interlock system for limiting the number of selections made. A plurality of aligned moveable selector keys are provided with cam surfaces on each key shaft. A rotatable column locking mechanism is mounted adjacent each key having a pair of removeable pins, one pivotal about the other. A slide device connects each key with the adjacent locking mechanism to rotate the mechanism as the key is depressed. A metal interlock band is threaded between each pair of removeable pins of selected column locking mechanisms to interconnect the corresponding voting keys. The interlock band is secured between clamps with a predetermined amount of slack. As each selection is made, the locking mechanism corresponding to the voted selection key pivots to reduce the slack in the interlock band. After a certain number of selections, the slack in the interlock band has been eliminated and the band is taut against the selected locking mechanism so that additional mechanisms cannot be rotated. The blocked locking mechanisms in turn prevent further voting acting through their corresponding slide devices which abut the cam surfaces of the voting keys. A row locking mechanism is also disposed adjacent each selector key for interconnecting the key with other selector keys in the same row or in other rows.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a voting machine having a plurality of aligned voting keys, each of said keys being moveable between an unvoted position and a voted position, a mechanical interlock comprising: a plurality of cam means each associated with one of said keys,   a plurality of slide means each adjacent one of said cam means for sliding in response to movement of said keys from the unvoted position to the voted position,   a plurality of pivot members each associated with one of said keys rotatably mounted for rotating in response to the sliding of one of said slide means, and   means for selectively interlocking certain of the pivot members associated with certain of said voting keys including common means for interconnecting each of said certain pivot members and blocking means removably attached to said each of said certain pivot members for contacting said common means to block rotation of said certain pivot members in response to a predetermined number of said certain voting keys having been moved to the voted position, whereby subsequent movement of additional of said certain voting keys to the voted position is prevented.   
     
     
       2. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 wherein each one of said slide means comprises a moveable pin in contact with the cam means corresponding to said one slide means and a slide bar responsive to movement of said pin to abut and rotate the pivot member corresponding to said one slide means. 
     
     
       3. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 wherein said common means comprises a band extending adjacent to said certain aligned voting keys in contact with said blocking means on said certain pivot means, said band being secured at both ends to provide tension against said blocking means to block rotation of said certain pivot means after said predetermined number of keys have been moved. 
     
     
       4. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 wherein each one of said blocking means comprises a removable pivot piece on said pivot member in alignment with the pivot pieces of each of the other voting keys, and a stationary piece on said pivot member in alignment with the stationary pieces of each of the other voting keys, said pivot piece being mounted for independent rotation about said stationary piece in response to the sliding of said slide means. 
     
     
       5. The mechanical interlock of claim 4 wherein said common means comprises a tensioned band extending in parallel to the alignment of said pivot pieces and parallel to the alignment of said stationary pieces in blocking contact with certain of said pivot pieces and stationary pieces to block rotation of said certain pivot pieces upon rotation of a predetermined number of said pivot pieces. 
     
     
       6. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 wherein each one of said cam means comprises a sloped surface on the key corresponding to said one cam means in contact with the slide means corresponding to said one cam means to shift said corresponding slide means as said corresponding key is moved from the unvoted to the voted position. 
     
     
       7. In a voting machine having a plurality of aligned voting keys, each key being moveable from an unvoted position to a voted position, the combination comprising: a plurality of rotating members each associated with one of said aligned voting keys including a pivot piece removably attached to said each rotating member for pivoting about a point adjacent to said one key in response to movement of said one key between said unvoted position and said voted position; and   band interlock means adjacent said voting keys interconnecting said plurality of rotating members for blocking pivoting of said pivot pieces in response to a predetermined number of said keys having been moved from the unvoted position to the voted position, to prevent other of said keys from subsequently being moved to the voted position.   
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising cam means on each of said voting keys and a plurality of slide means each associated with one of said cam means for sliding in response to movement of one of said keys from the unvoted position to the voted position, each of said slide means being in contact with one of said rotating members to pivot said one rotating member about said point in response to the sliding of said slide means. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said band interlock means comprises an elongated band extending parallel to said aligned voting keys and fastened at both ends so that said band has a predetermined amount of slack, said band extending adjacent each of said pivot pieces so that said slack is reduced in response to pivot pieces rotating against said band. 
     
     
       10. A selection machine comprising: an elongate selection column;   a plurality of selector keys each having cam means associated therewith and moveable relative to said column from a first neutral position to a second registered position;   a plurality of shifting means each being in contact with one of said cam means for blocking movement of one of said selector keys after a predetermined number of said keys have been moved to said second registered position;   a plurality of pivot members each being rotatably mounted in abutting contact with one of said shifting means for blocking movement of said one shifting means after said predetermined number of said keys have been moved to said second registered position; and   band interlock means in contact with said pivot members to prevent rotation of said pivot members after said predetermined number of said keys have been moved to said second registered position thereby blocking movement of other of said keys to said second registered position.   
     
     
       11. A voting machine comprising: a frame member;   a plurality of aligned voting keys slidably mounted on said frame to slide from a first unvoted position to a second voted position, each key having at least one cam surface thereon;   a plurality of slide bars each associated with one of said cam surfaces for shifting normal to the sliding movement of one of said keys in response to said movement;   a plurality of pivot pieces each rotatably mounted adjacent one of said keys and responsive to one of said slide bars, said pivot pieces each including a first pivot pin removably attached to said each pivot piece and rotatable about a second pivot pin; and   an interlocking band extending parallel with said voting keys between each of said first and second pivot pins, said band being secured at both ends and having a predetermined amount of slack which is reduced in response to the rotation of each of said pivot pieces, whereby said band is placed in blocking tension to prevent rotation of each of said first pins about each of said second pins after a predetermined number of keys have been moved to the second voted position.   
     
     
       12. The voting machine of claim 11 and further comprising a plurality of slide pins each being between one of said cam surfaces and one of said slide bars for shifting said one slide bar in response to movement of said one cam surface. 
     
     
       13. A selection machine comprising: a. a plurality of columnar frame members;   b. a plurality of selection keys aligned in columns and rows on said frame members each being laterally moveable from a first position to a second position to indicate a selection;   c. column interlock means for limiting the number of selected keys in a column, including 1. a plurality of slide means each in contact with one of said keys for shifting transverse to the lateral movement of said key in response to a selection,   2. a plurality of first pivot members each responsive to one of said slide means for rotating in response to a selection, certain of said first pivot members each having a first pivot piece removably mounted thereon, and   3. first band interlock means in contact with the first pivot pieces on said certain of said first pivot members to block rotation of each of said certain first pivot members which has not been rotated after a first predetermined number of selections have been made, and     d. row interlock means for limiting the number of selected keys in a row, including 1. a plurality of second pivot members each responsive to one of said slide means for rotating in response to a selection, certain of said second pivot members each having a second pivot base removably mounted thereon, and     
     
     
       2. second band interlock means in contact with the second pivot pieces of said certain of said second pivot members to block rotation of each of said certain second pivot members which has not been rotated after a second predetermined number of selections have been made. 
     
     
       14. The selection machine of claim 13 wherein said first interlock means comprises a first band extending adjacent said certain first pivot members in contact with said removable first pivot pieces, said first band being tensioned to allow rotation of only said first predetermined number of said certain first pivot members. 
     
     
       15. The selection machine of claim 13 wherein said second interlock means comprises a second band extending adjacent said certain second pivot members in contact with said removable second pivot pieces, said second band being tensioned to allow rotation of only said second predetermined number of said certain second pivot members. 
     
     
       16. In a voting machine having a plurality of aligned voting keys, each of said keys being moveable between an unvoted position and a voted position, a mechanical interlock comprising: a plurality of cam means each associated with one of said keys,   a plurality of slide means each adjacent one of said cam means for sliding in response to movement of said keys from the unvoted position to the voted position,   a plurality of pivot means each associated with one of said keys for rotating in response to the sliding of one of said slide means, and   means for selectively interlocking certain of the pivot means associated with certain of said voting keys to block rotation of said certain pivot means in response to a predetermined number of certain voting keys having been moved to the voted position, whereby movement of additional of said certain voting keys to the voted position is prevented,   wherein each one of said certain pivot means comprises a pivot piece rotatably mounted adjacent the voting key corresponding to said one pivot means for rotating in response to the sliding of the slide means corresponding to said corresponding key, and a removable pin for selectively attaching to said pivot to contact said interlocking means, whereby said interlocking means blocks rotation of said certain pivot means by contacting the removeable pins corresponding to said certain pivot means.   
     
     
       17. In a voting machine having a plurality of aligned voting keys, each of said keys being moveable between an unvoted position and a voted position, a mechanical interlock comprising: a plurality of cam means each associated with one of said keys,   a plurality of slide means each adjacent one of said cam means for sliding in response to movement of said keys from the unvoted position to the voted position,   a plurality of pivot means each associated with one of said keys for rotating in response to the sliding of one of said slide means, and   means for selectively interlocking certain of the pivot means associated with certain of said voting keys to block rotation of said certain pivot means in response to a predetermined number of said certain voting keys having been moved to the voted position, whereby movement of additional of said certain voting keys to the voted position is prevented,   wherein each one of said pivot means comprises at least two posts adjacent the voting key corresponding to said one pivot means, the first post being mounted to rotate about the second post, and wherein said interlocking means comprises a band threaded between each of said two posts along a line parallel to said aligned keys, said band being fastened at both ends to establish a predetermined amount of slack in said band, whereby partial rotation of each of said first posts around the corresponding second post will bend a portion of said band out of said line and decrease the slack in said band.   
     
     
       18. A selection machine comprising: a. a plurality of columnar frame members;   b. a plurality of selection keys aligned in columns and rows on said frame members each being laterally moveable from a first position to a second position to indicate a selection;   c. column interlock means for limiting the number of selected keys in a column, including 1. a plurality of slide means each in contact with one of said keys for shifting transverse to said key in response to a selection,   2. a plurality of first pivot means each responsive to one of said slide means for rotating in response to a selection, and   3. first band interlock means in contact with certain of said first pivot means to block rotation of each of said certain first pivot means which has not been rotated after a first predetermined number of selections have been made, and     d. row interlock means for limiting the number of selected keys in a row, including 1. a plurality of second pivot means each responsive to one of said slide means for rotating in response to a selection, and   2. second band interlock means in contact with certain of said second pivot means to block rotation of each of said certain  second pivot means which has not been rotated after a second predetermined number of selections have been made,     wherein each of said first and second pivot means comprises a pair of removeable pivot pins rotatable with respect to each other in response to movement of one of said selection keys.   
     
     
       19. The selection machine of claim 18 wherein each of said first and second band interlock means comprises a band having a predetermined amount of slack threaded between said pairs of pivot pins, and wherein said pairs of pivot pins rotate in response to movement of said selection keys to take up said predetermined amount of slack, whereby said band is drawn taut and blocks rotation of each of said pivot pins which has not been rotated after a number of selections have been made.